Guess Who...

[LEB Ben]

...gets to buy a cam. That's right, this guy, right here. Went to throw the Bronco back together, was tq'ing down the cam bolt to spec and it sheered right off...about 5/8" from the head. I'm gonna try a left handed carbide bit and an easy out...but the outlook appears grim. The cam bolt is 5/16-18 right?



Now for the newbie question(s). I plan on throwing in the Comp Cams XE262:

http://www.compcams.com/Cam_Specs/CamDetails.aspx?csid=847&sb=2


Now all I should need are new lifters and springs with that cam, right? No need for new push rods? And then there is mention of retainers and locks...dunno what tha means or if I need them. Can someone please straighten me out...never done this by myself or had someone else do it for me. So let me know what I actually need. Besides a carb and intake, it's a stock engine.. Thanks.

 

[dragogt]

You should always measure the push rods.. jmo

 

[F 150Cobra]

that cam is almost same as mine.. good cam..

yupp new lifters and springs.. maybe double springs is recommended



yupp i just read. u need to use double springs and with that u need to use Viton Valve seals and some machining is required on the head

 

[LEB Ben]

yupp i just read. u need to use double springs and with that u need to use Viton Valve seals and some machining is required on the head

And there in lies the problem...some guys say this...others just say springs and lifters...because I'm not doing any machining. I just wanna swap in the cam (and lifters/springs).

 

[hollenjoe]

The socket size is 5/8" but the diameter or thread size is 3/8"-16, im almost sure hehe, i recently upgraded to a hydraulic rolller on my 400...

Ok bout the new cam, yes you need new springs with better preasure ( dual springs are an overkill here, and you could flatten a lobe!!!) and new cam new lifters, whatever they recomend with their cam sheet is usually correct,

bout the retainer and locks its tricky, reatiners are the round dishes that keep preasure on top of the springs, locks are what keep the valves from dropping under the retainers. So you must check what type of valves you are running, usually stock valves are the crapy 2 piece multi groove system ( the tip of the valve where the lock goes will have three or four grooves or seats were the locks go), these are crap, these type of retainers usually let a valve drop under mid range rpm, since you are using a low grunt mule, you may leave them, theres no point and i dont even know if you can get new multi groove valve locks. Changing valves is a deeper job which im sure you dont wanna do.. You will need new retainers if you have the exhaust rotaters which i think only came in 351ms not 400s. If you have the single groove valves I would get the new retainers and locks, its always good to have new stuff to go along with your new stuff

multigroove valve :
http://www.americanpartsdepot.com/images/910 7801f.jpg

single groove valves :
http://www.dynoman.net/images/engine/valves/DP-CB1100F/DP-CB1100F-2.jpg

Caution: when changing springs, removing locks etc always have the piston corresponding to the valves at tdc, or else the valve will drop down and you will most probably end up having to remove the head....

Since you are choosing an extreme energy cam you will need a tad longer pushrods, these cams as the new roller comp cams come with a smaller diamater base circle so more lift can be designed into them, think other cams like the dual energy brand use the stock base circle.... so yeah you will have to check for pushrod length :

http://www.compcams.com/Technical/FAQ/FAQPushrods.asp

Gud LUck!

 

[DNFXDLI]

Give Mr. Tim a call Ben.

 

[hollenjoe]

Yes thats very true, TMI will even get you better prices....

 

[LEB Ben]

Great info Joe, definitely learned something. And I already PM'd Tim, but I think a phone call is more appropriate at the moment.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Ben...sometimes he gets busy in the machine shop...so you might have to call more than once.

 

[hollenjoe]

.....................No prob! And yup you will get a faster answer by phone...

 

[LEB Ben]

Ben...sometimes he gets busy in the machine shop...so you might have to call more than once.

Not a problem...he's a guy worth calling back...haha.

.....................No prob! And yup you will get a faster answer by phone...

Yeah. BTW, I really do appreciate your quick response with such a wealth of info.


That being said...you have any suggestions on cams that will get me back operational with the least amount of complications? IE something that cheaper springs will be able to handle, won't have to get new pushrods and no potential valve issues? So obviously a less agressive cam, I'm just looking for something I can throw in the cam, springs and lifters and be confident it'll run for a good long time.

 

[hollenjoe]

You could probably get away with a dual energy, 255 deh or 265deh, but with a stock 400 i would go with the xe256 and new push rods...

With the stock steal rocker amrs you can get away with a bit of push rod length, if you have roller rockers thats a whole different story...

 

[LEB Ben]

Thanks again Joe...you're always a wealth of info. Always been a good guy and a great help to me...thanks.

 

[LEB Ben]

Just got off the phone with Tim...he put me on two or three cams that he said would be the limit for the rest of the stock components. Here are the three:

http://www.compperformancegroupstor...duct_Code=CL32-206-3&Category_Code=F351HFTCDE


http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1621&gid=287


http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1620&gid=287



I really think I'm leaning towards DEH255 (it's a good ol standby) but I kinda like the first Lunati cam.


So now it looks like I need to figure out if I have multi groove or single groove valves to determine if I'll need his retainers or not.

Anyway, thanks again to Tim for finally clarifying to me what the limits are cam wise for a stock engine before you need to start getting more involved. He's a great guy to talk with on the phone, he's obviously a busy man, but you couldn't tell, he has all the time in the world for the customer.


I look forward to placing my order on Wednesday.